FULL COUNTRY NAME:
Republic of Cape Verde

LOCATION:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

CAPITAL:
Praia

POPULATION:
418,224 (July 2005 est.)

ETHNIC GROUPS:
Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

LANGUAGES:
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

INDEPENDENCE:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

NATURAL RESOURCES:
Salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

CURRENCY:
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

GDP Purchasing power parity:
$600 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
Purchasing power parity $1,400 (2002 est.)

EXPORT COMMODITIES:
Fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

MAIN DESTINATIONS OF EXPORTS:
Portugal 62.5%, U.S. 15.8%, U.K. 11.3%

IMPORTS:
$387.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

IMPORT COMMODITIES:
Foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Source: CIA The World Factbook